I am planning to go over in 2010 for a semester or two, (I am not sure yet) I was wondering if anyone here has any experience or recommendations. Right now I am looking at Intrax study abroad because it has insurance and the ability to get scholarships.

I search and found Intrax -study abroad-. (Look at the first post)Here's a link: http://www.intraxstudyabroad.com/japanIt costs over 8,000 for a semester !Is this an expensive deal in comparison with other companies such as CCI?

what country are you from?I know about intrax. It's good, but it's rules are kind of inconsistent and a pain.

If I remember correctly, AFS has some crazy thing where you have to write a 1st and second choice and you may not get your first choice. =/

I didn't well read what you wrote, but Intrax is a good program. You'll be automatically registered to take the JLPT test (in case you didn't know). It has the best pricing, the insurance is a plus, and besides the occasional rules setting you back, I found no problems.

You may be placed in a very unpopular area (i was placed in Anjou. even people in japan don't know where this is) So, if you're dead set on a certain area.........forget about it. I noticed when i went that Tokyo is really for the younger kids because they need to be closer to headquarters in case of problems. The older students were placed farther away.

My advice, whatever program you chose, please be prepared. Don't be picky about stuff (i hated ALL the other exchange students. They were so ungrateful to their host families, never studied, and cause problems at school) it's not a vacation, if you're not going to learn something be it language or culture, don't go at all.